SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 2, 2021, Costel Aparaschivei, age 38, of Romania, was sentenced to 45 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, for bank fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Aparaschivei was convicted of conspiring to commit bank fraud between October 6, 2018 and Oct. 21, 2018, and of aggravated identity theft. Aparaschivei pled guilty to obtaining counterfeit debit cards bearing stolen account numbers and PINs in New York, and transporting them to South Abington Township, Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, Aparaschivei and his coconspirator, Daniel Gologan, used the counterfeit debit cards at Penn East Federal Credit Union and attempted to withdraw approximately $144,620. The conspirators successfully withdrew $66,510, which Judge Mariani ordered to be paid as restitution.
In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Mariani highlighted the fact that Aparaschivei began committing his offense within approximately one month of entering the United States illegally. Aparaschivei will be deported to Romania following the conclusion of his sentence.
Aparaschivei’s coconspirator, Gologan, also pled guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft, and was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment. Gologan will be deported following the conclusion of his sentence.
The matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and by the South Abington Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
